Loose leaf binder



July 2l, 1959 w; GRAMACY Loose: LEAF BINDER Filed April 30. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u fuv/ 7 m ma .4Z/w n f mm 2\UU u 3 6 /N 9 3 Wm u 2 7 2 KfW/m .m j 2 H1 f. W Mm 5 v4 5W 5W f 5 7 v1-4 W, 4L a 4 2 n. y w u 7 5 N 3 0 l n 2 s M MH 5 n 2 /3 n 2J 3 Mm 5 W/ n 5 r c United States Patent LOOSE LEAF BINDER William Gramacy, Bronx, N .Y. Application April 30, 1957, Serial No. 656,144

3 Claims. (ci. 129-13) 'Ihis invention relates -to new and useful improvements in loose leaf binders and is an improvement over the loose leaf binders of the prior art.

In certain types of loose leaf binders, the binder heads between which the body of loose leaves is clamped are expansibly connected by `telescoped posts and are releasably secured against separation through the locking medium of small clutch balls wedged between cooperating surfaces. The present invention is concerned with means for yieldingly maintaining the clutch balls in their operative positions, and has as an object to improve the construction of locks of this type.

` Another important object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for releasing the locking means so as to permit spreading apartof the binder heads.`

A further object of the invention is to provide locking and releasing means that are convenient to manipulate and that are positive in action.

'For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

AFig. 1 is a front elevational view of a loose leaf binderembodying my invention as seen from the front open end` of the binder, the binder heads being shown in closed operative position.

Fig. 2 is anfragmentary sectional View plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. l. l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the binder heads in open inoperative position, on the same scale as Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, on a larger scale than Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a loose leaf binder embodying my invention is shown in Fig. l and is generally designated 15. This loose leaf binder comprises a back portion composed of two narrow plates 16 and 17, L-shaped in cross-section, slidably superposed on each other for movement toward and away from each other and arranged to form a channel 18 therebetween. The plate 16 is preferably of rigid cardboard or the like covered by fabric and has an integral cover 19 for the binder hinged thereto. The other plate 17 is formed of metal and has a separate binder cover 20 hingedly secured thereto. Spaced round posts 21 carried by the plate 17 extend into the channel so as to hold loosely and detachably a body of loose leaves (not shown), forming the filler for the channel.

In accordance with the present invention, locking taken on the ICC mechanism -is provided for releasably locking the L-shaped plates and associated parts against movement away from each other. This mechanism includes a metal tubular sleeve 22 having wing portions 23 spot Welded or otherwise suitably secured, as indicated at 24, to the overlapping back portion of the L-shapcd plate 17 and extending thereacross, midway Aits ends, as shown in Figs.

1 and 5. A round post 25 secured at one end to the plate 17 in any suitable manner extends centrally through the sleeve 22 to the outer end thereof, leaving a space 26 therearound.

On the L-shaped plate 16, midway its ends, there is a rectangular-shaped metal housing 27, constituted by a metal plate 28 having inwardly directed end walls 29 and 30 continuing into laterally disposed feet 31 and 32, secured yto the plate 16, as by rivets 33. The end wall 30 .is formed Iwith a slot 34, and the plate 28 is formed with a central opening 35, in longitudinal alignment with the slot 34, and is also formed with slots 36 and 37 onwboth sides of the lcentral opening 35.

A tubular post 38 extends outwardly of the plate 28 into the channel 18 across and closely spaced from the overlapping portion of the L-shaped plate 16. This post is formed with a reduced end 39 fitted -in the central opening 35 of the plate 28 and suitably secured thereto. The opposite end of the post is also reduced and formed with external screw threads 4u to receive an elongated internally screw-threaded cap 41, forming an extension thereof. The inner surface of the outer end of the cap is taperingly reduced to provide an inner conical surface 42.

A carrier sleeve 43 is telescope and slidably mounted in the post 38 and is adapted to receive the post 25 extending from the plate 17. The inner end 44 of the carrier sleeve is reduced in diameter, forming a shoulder 45. The reduced end 44 extends outwardly from the post 38 into the interior of the housing 27, where it is formed with an annular groove 46, while there is an annular liange 47 on the outer wall of the groove. A compression spring 48 yis sleeved around the reduced end 44, seats on a shoulder 49 formed on the inner surface of the Itubular post 38 and impinges against the shoulder 45, thereby urging the carrier sleeve 43 inwardly of the post 38. On the inner end of the carrier sleeve, a plurality of radial holes 50 are drilled. Loose-y ly mounted in the holes are clutch balls 51. The compression spring urges the carrier sleeve inwardly of theV post 38 and the clutch `balls 51 into clamping engagement with the post, thereby holding the slidable plates 16 and 17 together with their associated parts, against sliding movement.

The mechanism for releasing the gripping action of the clutch balls 51 will now be described. This mechanism includes an elongated tilting or releasing slide bar 52 formed of suitable metal or other suiciently rigid material and extending through the slot 34 in the end wall 30 of the housing 27, being slidable therein. An elongated slot 53 is formed in the level adjacent its inner end, positioned over the reduced end portion 44 of the carrier sleeve 43 with its edge walls slidable in the groove 46. On both sides of the slot 53, the material of the lever is creased transversely, forming transverse beads or bends 54. The spacing between the beads or bends corresponds to the spacing between the slots 36 and 37 in the housing 27 so that in one moved position of the slide bar 52, the beads or bends drop into said slots limiting inward movement of the slide bar. When4 the slide bar is pulled outwardly, the beads or bends are withdrawn from the slots and ride over the housing plate 28, thereby serving as cams to move the end of the lever bar away from the housing plate 28, in order to pull the carrier sleeve 43 outwardly of the post 38 and thereby to release movement by thewalls of the slot 34 in the end wall 30.

of the housing 27 and by the Walls of the groove 46 on the carrier sleeve 38 and also by a block 55 secured to the upper surface of the foot 32 of the housing 27 dis-l posed under the slide bar. The slide bar may be provided with a handle 56 which is positioned close to one of the open ends of the binder, so as to be convenient for handling.

With the releasing bar 52 positioned as shown in Figs. l and 3, the beads or bends S4 of the bar are positioned in the slots 36 and 37 of the housing 27 thus allowing the spring 48 to yieldingly project the carrier sleeve 43 into the tubular post 33 and maintain the balls 51 in operative position. In order to release the gripping action of the balls 51, the tilting slide bar 52 is pulled outwardly7 thereby withdrawing the beads or bends 54 from the slot and moving them over indented portions 57 formed in the plate 28 of the housing 27, thereby carnming or tilting the releasing slide bar 52 from the housing and pulling the carrier sleeve i3 outwardly of the tubular post 38 and thereby moving the balls 51 away from the inclined surfaces 42 of the cap 41.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

l.l In a loose leaf binder, slidable Lshaped plates. constituting the back of the binder, prongs carried by one of said plates for loosely and detachably holding loose leaves, and expansible means connecting the L-shaped plates and associated parts, said means including a sleeve carried by one of the said L-shaped plates, a solid post carried by said one L-shaped plate and positioned centrally of the sleeve,v a. plate carried by the other of said L-shaped plates said latter plate being bent to form a housing with a central opening and with an end opening,y a tubular post having one end secured in said central opening, atubular cap secured to the free end of said tubular post and forming an extension thereof, said cap having a conical innersurface, a` carrier sleeve telescoped in said tubular post, said carrier sleeve having a reduced end portion extending outwardly of the tubular post and protruding into saidhousing, clutch balls carried by said carrier sleeve at its other end adapted to be wedged between the conical wall and the solid post, to secure the sleeve and tubular post against movement apart, a compression spring interposed between the tubular post and carrier sleeve for urging said carrier sleeve inwardly of the tubular post and for maintaining the balls in operative gripping position, a releasing bar longitudinally slidable in said hollow housing and operatively connected with said carrier sleeve, and coacting camming means on the housing and releasing bar, so that longitudinal shifting of the releasing bar draws the carrier sleeve outwardly of the tubular post, whereby to withdraw the clutch balls from the conical wall and to release the sleeve and tubular post for separation.

2. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim l, wherein the operative connection between the releasing bar and the carrier sleeve includes a groove in said reduced end portion of the carrier sleeve, an annular flange around said groove, said releasing bar having an elongated` slot positioned over said reduced end portion of the carrier sleeve in said groove adjacent said iiange, whereby tilt-` ing of the releasing bar is transmitted to the carrier sleeve, and wherein vsaid coacting means includes spaced bends formed in the releasing bar and spaced indentations in thel hollow housing in the path of movement of the bends in the bar.

3. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim l, wherein the operative connection between the releasing bar and. carrier sleeve includes a groove in said reduced end por? tion of the carrier sleeve, an annular flange around said groove, said releasing bar having an elongated slot positioned over said reduced endportion of the carrier sleeve in said groove adjacent said flange, whereby tilting of the releasing bar is transmitted to the carrier sleeve, wherein said coasting means includes spaced bends formed in the releasing bar and spaced indentations in the hollow housing in the path of movement of the bends in the bar, wherein the other end of said carrier sleeve is formed with a plurality of radial openings and the clutch balls are `loosely mounted in said openings, and wherein theV compression spring is seated on opposed shoulders formed on Vthe tubular post and on the carrier sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

